Artwork by Stephen Hanson Page 1 of 2111 Artworks

Stephen Hanson is an exceptionally talented artist whose career spans the worlds of animation, film, illustration and fine art.

With a lifelong passion for creativity and storytelling, Stephen has developed a distinctive artistic style, combining traditional artistic techniques with the possibilities of digital painting.

From an early age, Stephen knew that art would play a central role in his life. Inspired by the imaginative worlds created by artists such as Arthur Rackham, Brian Froud, Alan Lee, Chuck Close and Frank Frazetta, he developed a particular fascination with fantasy art and the ability to bring extraordinary ideas to life through realism, detail and imagination.

Following his studies at Batley Art College, where he achieved a distinction in Graphic Design and Illustration, Stephen began his professional career with a greeting card company. However, his real passion lay in film, particularly the magical special effects of Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad films. Fascinated by the artistry behind these productions, Stephen immersed himself in learning about the film industry and the creative talent responsible for bringing these fantastical worlds to the screen.

His dedication to developing his portfolio soon led to a position at Cosgrove Hall Productions in Manchester, where he spent four years as a Visual Development Artist, contributing to much-loved productions including The BFG, Dangermouse and Count Duckula.

Since then, Stephen has enjoyed an impressive career working across the animation and film industries, contributing to productions including Balto, The Corpse Bride, Despicable Me, Flushed Away, Arthur Christmas and Adventures with Pirates.

His wider creative work has also included television commercials and children's book illustration, with titles such as Enid Blyton's Secret Seven and Kes Gray's Nelly the Monster Sitter.

Stephen is also the author and illustrator of his own children's book, Froobie Pink and the Night Noises.

Most recently, Stephen has worked as Production Designer and Character Designer on the film BOLLYWOOF, which is scheduled to have its world premiere at Leeds International Film Festival on 15th November 2026.

Particularly special to Stephen, the story begins in Yorkshire, the county where he was born and continues to live.

Alongside his extensive career in film and illustration, Stephen has continued to develop his own fine art practice, embracing the freedom and creative possibilities that the world of fine art offers.

His artistic journey began with traditional mediums, including gouache, pencil crayon and airbrush, before moving into ink and watercolour. His introduction to digital painting came through his work in the video games industry, where advances in computer technology were transforming the animation process.

Stephen prefers to describe his technique as 'Tradigital', reflecting his commitment to retaining the qualities and expressive nature of traditional art while embracing the advantages of modern technology.

Working with a Wacom tablet and stylus alongside Corel Painter software, Stephen recreates the experience of drawing and painting with traditional materials. Every mark, stroke and detail is created with the same artistic consideration as it would be on paper or canvas, with digital pixels taking the place of traditional pigments. His expertise has earned him recognition as an official Featured Artist for Corel Painter.

Each artwork begins with an extensive period of exploration and development. Weeks are often spent working through ideas in sketchbooks using ink and watercolour before Stephen commits to the final composition. The finished paintings can take weeks or even months to complete, demonstrating the patience, dedication and attention to detail that underpin his practice.

For Stephen, seeing his work transformed into a finished physical print is immensely rewarding, but seeing it framed and displayed in a gallery is even more special. Knowing that his artwork resonates with people enough for them to choose to own it is something he never takes for granted.

Stephen's passion for creativity extends beyond his artwork. The growing influence of Artificial Intelligence and its potential impact on human creativity inspired him to write The Entity I Could Not Fathom: An Exploration Into Artificial Intelligence For The Creative Mind.

This thought-provoking book explores Stephen's personal response to the rise of AI and reflects his belief in the importance of protecting and preserving human creativity for future generations.

At Westover Gallery, we admire Stephen's ability to combine an extraordinary professional background with a deeply personal approach to his fine art. His work reflects a lifetime of artistic exploration, technical expertise and imagination, bringing together the worlds of traditional illustration, digital innovation and cinematic storytelling.

We are delighted to showcase Stephen Hanson's work and share with our visitors the creativity and passion behind each piece.